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I have actually seen Hwayo available overseas, too, in some fancy liquor stores. So I dunno if that's a dealbreaker for waygook.org user Chinguetti.

Haha, thanks for the recommendation, guys.

Yeah, generally anything that can be found easily in a chain grocery or convenience store here can also be found in the States at your local asian mart or liquor store. For the most part. Especially in the areas where there is a large Korean community. My brother has easy access to those, and I don't want to load down a box with something he can just buy at home. I have absolutely no problem paying more for a higher quality soju as long as it's not anything too crazy. Anything under 150k won is doable for me, as long as it's worth it.

But it's not a dealbreaker, it's definitely something I'll tell my brother to look out for the next time he goes shopping because it might be priced like a fine liquor at home (12k here, $60 in the States = no), in which case I'll probably end up sticking a bottle into my next shipment anyway.

Thanks again!

The problem with fancy soju is diminishing returns.

You've got your basic stuff.

Then for like 500 won more, you can get the fancy basic stuff. Which honestly is better. You can taste the difference.

Then you get up to the Hwayo level, where it's like 15-25,000 per bottle. And that's the biggest jump in quality. Smooth, drinkable, doesn't taste like chemicals. Tastes good on the rocks, or even neat. You don't even have to shoot it, because it's honestly pretty tasty.

And then you can go to the fancy liquor sections in some of the department stores (I think Shinsegae has been putting 'traditional Korean liquor' stalls in some of their places. Or maybe it was Hyundai. Anyways.) and then you're getting pretty much top-of-the-line stuff, but at the same time, you're paying a huge premium for the presentation, packaging, and marketing, for a taste that isn't dramatically different than what you'd get with a bottle of Hwayo for a fraction of the price.

I have actually seen Hwayo available overseas, too, in some fancy liquor stores. So I dunno if that's a dealbreaker for waygook.org user Chinguetti.

Haha, thanks for the recommendation, guys.

Yeah, generally anything that can be found easily in a chain grocery or convenience store here can also be found in the States at your local asian mart or liquor store. For the most part. Especially in the areas where there is a large Korean community. My brother has easy access to those, and I don't want to load down a box with something he can just buy at home. I have absolutely no problem paying more for a higher quality soju as long as it's not anything too crazy. Anything under 150k won is doable for me, as long as it's worth it.

But it's not a dealbreaker, it's definitely something I'll tell my brother to look out for the next time he goes shopping because it might be priced like a fine liquor at home (12k here, $60 in the States = no), in which case I'll probably end up sticking a bottle into my next shipment anyway.

Thanks again!

The problem with fancy soju is diminishing returns.

You've got your basic stuff.

Then for like 500 won more, you can get the fancy basic stuff. Which honestly is better. You can taste the difference.

Then you get up to the Hwayo level, where it's like 15-25,000 per bottle. And that's the biggest jump in quality. Smooth, drinkable, doesn't taste like chemicals. Tastes good on the rocks, or even neat. You don't even have to shoot it, because it's honestly pretty tasty.

And then you can go to the fancy liquor sections in some of the department stores (I think Shinsegae has been putting 'traditional Korean liquor' stalls in some of their places. Or maybe it was Hyundai. Anyways.) and then you're getting pretty much top-of-the-line stuff, but at the same time, you're paying a huge premium for the presentation, packaging, and marketing, for a taste that isn't dramatically different than what you'd get with a bottle of Hwayo for a fraction of the price.

Samgyupsal IS overrated. 목살 is the better cut. That being said, if you want good samgyupsal, you have to make sure it's fresh and that the ratio of meat-to-fat is acceptable. I also prefer a thicker cut that takes longer to cook. Pork belly is a fine cut, but it is overplayed here. I think part of the problem is that it's the only one a lot of people know and they're scared to order anything else off the menu, so you get stuck with it. People who know their stuff know to change it up and rather than order 6 servings of samgyupsal, to instead get a variety.

Personally, I think if something is mandatory for 1, it should be for all.Obviously, there should be exceptions, for things like disabilities and stuff.But, if you make exceptions because someone played sports; or made a band and got famous; etc. it makes it unfair on the others that still have to do it, IMO.

How did bibimbap and bulgogi become the posterchildren of Korean food promoted abroad? Bibimbap was literally created first by using 반찬 leftovers, and barely even qualifies as like, a recipe or dish, and bulgogi is just... underwhelming? Has anyone ever eaten bulgogi and been like, "Oh my god, this is so delicious"?

Bibimbap can be great, but at the end of the day, it really is just rice with 반찬 on it.

I feel like they're two of the most overrated Korean foods. Also samgyeopsal is up there. It's usually really low grade pork belly. If the place actually uses good meat, it can be good, but Korean BBQ restaurants are usually pretty much the lowest common denominator of food.

What do you feel are the most overrated Korean foods?

And if you're just going to come in here and say, "Bawww all Korean food is bad it's so bad UGH it's not REFINED and it's such an INFERIOR CUISINE UGHHHH" then just don't bother. I'm asking people who actually like and appreciate Korean food.

I can't eat a lot of Korean foods because of the spiciness. I have a super low tolerance to spicy foods, so even mild is often too much for me.So foods like bibimbap, samgyapsal, etc are pretty good to me. Also I have food allergies, and have to be careful about what I eat. I'm not sure I could say what is overrated, as there is a lot I haven't been able to eat.

Samgyupsal IS overrated. 목살 is the better cut. That being said, if you want good samgyupsal, you have to make sure it's fresh and that the ratio of meat-to-fat is acceptable. I also prefer a thicker cut that takes longer to cook. Pork belly is a fine cut, but it is overplayed here. I think part of the problem is that it's the only one a lot of people know and they're scared to order anything else off the menu, so you get stuck with it. People who know their stuff know to change it up and rather than order 6 servings of samgyupsal, to instead get a variety.

목살 is better, with 갈매기살 being the best. You're probably right - people just stick with what they know

Then for like 500 won more, you can get the fancy basic stuff. Which honestly is better. You can taste the difference.

Then you get up to the Hwayo level, where it's like 15-25,000 per bottle. And that's the biggest jump in quality. Smooth, drinkable, doesn't taste like chemicals. Tastes good on the rocks, or even neat. You don't even have to shoot it, because it's honestly pretty tasty.

And then you can go to the fancy liquor sections in some of the department stores (I think Shinsegae has been putting 'traditional Korean liquor' stalls in some of their places. Or maybe it was Hyundai. Anyways.) and then you're getting pretty much top-of-the-line stuff, but at the same time, you're paying a huge premium for the presentation, packaging, and marketing, for a taste that isn't dramatically different than what you'd get with a bottle of Hwayo for a fraction of the price.

Yeah, I'm trying to stay away from a lot of the modern brands for pretty much this reason.

I was hoping for brands that are a little more on the traditional and specialized side, like Andong soju. I think the most I've spent on soju so far was for around 40k, but it was a two-pack on sale. Can't remember the name, but it's in a fancy green bottle with a bell on it or maybe shaped like a bell... something to do with a bell. This is the soju my brother likes the most so far, although Andong soju is a lot stronger.

EDIT: Confirmed, it was a Lee Gang Ju soju. I think they may have one specifically formulated for the Jeonju area, too, I think I'll check it out.

Personally, I think if something is mandatory for 1, it should be for all.Obviously, there should be exceptions, for things like disabilities and stuff.But, if you make exceptions because someone played sports; or made a band and got famous; etc. it makes it unfair on the others that still have to do it, IMO.

I get a rush every time I buy something on-line using my Korean credit card; it is the same feeling I used to get hacking into somebody else's computer, only it is just buying a shirt with my own card.

I don't get the same feeling from Amazon or other places that save the card, but a new vendor is always a thrill!

Yes @ the willful ignorance of some students. Once they get to a certain age, they have no excuse. They literally have to put in effort to be that ignorant with all that's been made available to them for so long. Still, that's their prerogative. It'll catch up to some of them eventually, and they'll learn then.

With that in mind, I'm a little worried about my attitude towards the students in my classes lately. I've always been on the hard-nosed side, but I still try to keep it as casual and laid-back as possible in my classes so that students will be comfortable enough to try, even if they risk making mistakes.

But lately I've been coming down pretty hard on them for classroom behavior related issues, and I'm not sure if that's because they've been testing me more, or if I'm just losing my patience. I can't really tell atm. I need to take a step back to figure things out, I think, but I need to do it in a way so that problem students won't see it as me going soft.

today, for the first time, i saw my schools zoo/farm? including (but not limited to): some chickens, a peacock, a dog, a couple deer, a family of ducks, a goat, and a bunch of fruit trees. and a small driving range. ?!?

today, for the first time, i saw my schools zoo/farm? including (but not limited to): some chickens, a peacock, a dog, a couple deer, a family of ducks, a goat, and a bunch of fruit trees. and a small driving range. ?!?